Dr Volkmar Tanneberger, head of electronic development and the driving force behind the BUDD-e concept, told CAR magazine’s Ben Barry:

‘[The] basic idea is to develop a modular toolkit and take this flat battery idea into serial production, one motor on the front, one on the rear. The California [camper van] and Transporter [panel van and minibus line] will continue separately as combustion engines.’

Moreover, it seems the BUDD-e’s minimal, square-cut styling will make it to the road too. ‘You will see a car that looks a lot like this, on the MEB platform, reach production. I can’t say exactly when, but 2020 or thereabouts,’ says Tanneberger.

In the wake of dieselgate, the VW Group is keen to fast-track alternative propulsion systems for its products. Audi is thought to be eyeing the MED architecture to underpin an electric successor to the A2, alongside as many as four other EV models in the near future.